Emergency Department Services
With one of the lowest wait times in the country, 5 minutes on average, you have immediate access to the highest level of care on Staten Island. Our experienced emergency medical team treats all adult and pediatric emergencies. We are also a nationally accredited hospital for cardiac and stroke care and we are home to Staten Island’s only inpatient psychiatric services for adolescents.
Proudly Affiliated with the Mount Sinai Health System
Throughout our Emergency Department, you will find experienced physicians and medical personnel assigned to Richmond University Medical Center as well as to emergency departments, hospitals, and medical facilities from throughout the world-renowned Mount Sinai Health System.
When to Call 911, Your Doctor, or the Hospital
The following are some warning signs that may indicate a medical emergency and you should call 911 immediately:
- Sudden or severe pain
- Blurriness or changes in vision
- Chest or upper abdominal pain/pressure
- Confusion or changes in mental status
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Difficulty speaking
- Fainting, sudden dizziness or weakness
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Suicidal thoughts or feelings
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Unusual abdominal pain
When you call 911, be prepared to:
- Provide the condition of the person experiencing the medical emergency.
- The location of the person in need of assistance.
- A list of medications being taken by the patient, if possible.
- Remain calm. You may be asked to provide additional information that can help medical staff before and when they arrive.
Our Wide Range of Emergency Care
At Richmond University Medical Center, over 65,000 people are treated in our Emergency Department annually for just about any injury, illness, or condition you can think of. People trust Richmond University Medical Center when an emergency arises thanks to our experienced staff, advanced technology and personal approach to caring for our patients:
- A dedicated medical team: Our Emergency Department is staffed with board certified, fellowship trained physicians, an experienced emergency medicine nursing staff, skilled specialists, and additional medical professionals every hour, day or night.
- A Level I Adult and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center: Certified by the American College of Surgeons and the New York State Department of Health as a Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, this designation means we have trained medical staff, nurses, equipment and protocols in place to treat all adult and pediatric patients in need of emergency care. Richmond University Medical Center was the first medical facility in New York City to achieve this dual designation.
- Separate pediatric care unit: Our Emergency Department features a separate pediatric unit where the needs of our youngest patients and their families are tended to by our pediatricians in a comforting environment.
- Designated STEMI Receiving Center: More than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. We have been designated by the American Heart Association as a STEMI Receiving Center in recognition of the fast and effective measures we provide to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
- Certified stroke center: Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. We have earned The Joint Commission’s prestigious Gold Seal of Approval for advanced primary stroke care and American Heart Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines quality achievement award for our commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment possible. We also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award in recognition of the reduced time between an eligible patient’s arrival at our hospital and treatment provided with the clot-buster medication alteplase. We also earned the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for our specific care of patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications due to stroke.
- Thrombectomy services available 24/7: In the event of a stroke and if the patient is eligible, we have the ability to perform a mechanical thrombectomy on site, at any hour. This is a minimally-invasive procedure our trained physicians perform using specialized equipment to remove a clot from an artery, restoring blood flow.
- Staten Island’s only SAFE Center of Excellence: Since 2008, we have been designated by the New York State Department of Health as a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Center of Excellence. Our experienced, compassionate team of specially trained nurses provide sensitive care and support to victims of all ages who are victims of sexual assault.
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP): Our CPEP is a multifaceted treatment program offering a full range of psychiatric emergency services including crisis intervention, comprehensive evaluation by psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers, and referrals to appropriate community clinics within 5 days after the CPEP visit.
- Adolescent behavioral health services: We are Staten Island’s only provider of inpatient behavioral health services for adolescents, specializing in the treatment of depression, psychosis, substance use, and additional conditions.
You can find our emergency department at 355 Bard Ave in Staten Island. For more information, call (844)-934-CARE.
REMEMBER: Dial 9-1-1 immediately in the event of an emergency.
COMING SOON: Our new state-of-the art 35,000 sq. ft. Emergency Department. To learn more, click here.
